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Abstract: We aimed to identify changes in quality of life after breast cancer treatment and compare them withthe normative population data for the Slovenian population.Patients and methods. A prospective, single-group, cohort design was used. A total of 102 early breast cancerpatients treated with chemotherapy at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana were included. Of those, 71% returned thequestionnaires after one-year post-chemotherapy. The Slovenian versions of the European Organisation for Researchand Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ C30 and BR23 questionnaires were used. Primary outcomes were a com-parison of global health status/quality of life (GHS) and C30 Summary Score (C30-SumSc) at baseline and one-yearpost-chemotherapy with the normative Slovenian population. The exploratory analysis evaluated the differences insymptoms and functional scales of QLQ C-30 and QLQ BR-23 between baseline and one-year post-chemotherapy.Results. At baseline and one-year post-chemotherapy, C30-SumSc of patients was lower than the predictedC30-SumSc from the normative Slovenian population by 2.6 points (p = 0.04) and 6.5 points (p < 0.001), resp. On thecontrary, GHS was not statistically different from predicted either at baseline or after one year. Exploratory analysisrevealed that one-year post-chemotherapy compared to the beginning of chemotherapy, patients had statisticallysignificantly and clinically meaningful lower scores in body image and cognitive functioning, and increased symptomscores for pain, fatigue, and arm symptoms.Conclusions. The C30-SumSc is reduced one- year post-chemotherapy. Early interventions should be directed to-ward the prevention of the decline of cognitive functioning and body image, and to alleviate fatigue, pain, and armsymptoms.
Keywords: breast cancer, chemotherapy, quality of life
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 299; Downloads: 116
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Abstract: Biomedical applications of electroporation are expanding out of the field of oncology into vaccination, treatment of arrhythmias and now in the treatment of vascular malformations. Bleomycin is a widely used sclerosing agent in the treatment of various vascular malformations. The application of electric pulses in addition to bleomycin enhances the effectiveness of the drug, as demonstrated by electrochemotherapy, which utilizes bleomycin in the treatment of tumors. The same principle is used in bleomycin electrosclerotherapy (BEST). The approach seems to be effective in the treatment of low-flow (venous and lymphatic) and, potentially, even high-flow (arteriovenous) malformations. Although there are only a few published reports to date, the surgical community is interested, and an increasing number of centers are applying BEST in the treatment of vascular malformations. Within the International Network for Sharing Practices on Electrochemotherapy (InspECT) consortium, a dedicated working group has been constituted to develop standard operating procedures for BEST and foster clinical trials. By treatment standardization and successful completion of clinical trials demonstrating the effectiveness and safety of the approach, higher quality data and better clinical outcomes may be achieved.
Keywords: vascular malformations, electrosclerotherapy, bleomycin
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 395; Downloads: 130
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Abstract: A study was conducted to investigate atmospheric deposition and to explore the natural distribution and possible contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in the Prespa region, North Macedonia, using moss samples as biomonitors for air pollution. The distribution of 19 chemical elements (Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V, and Zn) was detected in 11 moss samples from this area. The moss samples were analysed after microwave digestion using inductively coupled plasma – atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). R-mode factor analysis was used to identify and characterise the elemental associations, and four associations of elements were identified. Four factors were separated from the group of elements: Factor 1 (Fe-Al-Cr-V-Ni), Factor 2 (Sr-Ba-Mg), Factor 3 (K-P-Zn) and Factor 4 (Pb-Cu). All element factors were found to be typical geochemical associations, with the exception of the distribution of K and P in the agricultural areas of the study area where fertilisers are used over a long period of time.
Keywords: moss biomonitoring, air pollution, potentially toxic elements, Prespa region, North Macedonia
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 356; Downloads: 220
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Abstract: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The expression of CD56 in DLBCL is highly unusual. Little is known about its incidence and clinical importance. So far, no genetic profiling was performed in CD56 positive DLBCL.Patients and methods. Tissue microarrays have been constructed, sectioned, and stained by H&E and immuno-histochemistry for 229 patients with DLBCL diagnosed 2008–2017. For CD56 positive cases, clinical data was collected including age at diagnosis, stage of the disease, International Prognostic Index (IPI) score, treatment scheme and number of chemotherapy cycles, radiation therapy, treatment outcome, and possible relapse of the disease. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated. For four patients, RNA was extracted and targeted RNA (cDNA) sequencing of 125 genes was performed with the Archer FusionPlex Lymphoma kit.Results. CD56 expression was found in 7 cases (3%). The intensity of expression varied from weak to moderate focal, to very intensive and diffuse. All patients had de novo DLBCL. The median age at the time of diagnosis was 54.5 years. Five of them were women and 2 males. According to the Hans algorithm, 6 patients had the germinal centre B cells (GBC) type and one non-GBC (activated B-cell [ABC]) type, double expressor. Genetic profiling of four patients ac-cording to Schmitz’s classification showed that 1 case was of the BN2 subtype, 1 of EZB subtype, 2 were unclassified. The six treated patients reached a complete response and did not experience progression of the disease during the median follow-up period of 80.5 months.Conclusions. We report on one of the largest series of CD56+DLBCL with detailed clinicopathological data and for the first time described genetical findings in a limited number of patients. Our results show that CD56 expression is rare, but seems to be present in prognostic favourable subtypes of DLBCL not otherwise specified (NOS) as tested by immunohistochemical or genetic profiling
Keywords: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, immunohistochemistry, lymphomas, CD56
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 366; Downloads: 134
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Abstract: Background. Tramadol is an opioid analgesic often used for pain management after breast cancer surgery. Its anal-gesic activity is due to the activation of the μ-opioid receptor, encoded by the OPRM1 gene. This study investigated the association of genetic variability in OPRM1 and its regulatory miRNA genes with outcomes of tramadol/paraceta-mol treatment after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymphadenectomy.Patients and methods. The study included 113 breast cancer patients after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymphadenectomy treated with either 75/650 mg or 37.5/325 mg of tramadol with paracetamol for pain relief within the randomized clinical trial KCT 04/2015-DORETAonko/si at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana. All patients were geno-typed for OPRM1 rs1799971 and rs677830, MIR23B rs1011784, and MIR107 rs2296616 using competitive allele-specific PCR. The association of genetic factors with acute and chronic pain as well as adverse effects of tramadol treatment was evaluated using logistic regression, Fisher’s exact test, and Mann-Whitney test.Results.The investigated OPRM1 related polymorphisms were not associated with acute pain assessed with the VAS scale within four weeks after surgery (all P > 0.05). Carriers of at least one polymorphic OPRM1 rs1799971 allele had a higher risk of constipation in the first four weeks after surgery compared to non-carriers (OR = 4.5, 95% CI = 1.6–12.64, P = 0.004). Carriers of at least one polymorphic OPRM1 rs677830 allele had a higher risk of constipation after third week of tramadol treatment (OR = 3.11, 95% CI = 1.08–8.89, P = 0.035). Furthermore, carriers of two polymorphic MIR23Brs1011784 alleles had a higher risk of nausea after 28 days of tramadol treatment (OR = 7.35, 95% CI = 1.27–42.6, P = 0.026), while heterozygotes for MIR107 rs2296616 allele had a lower risk of nausea after 21 days of tramadol treatment (OR = 0.21, 95% CI = 0.05–0.87, P = 0.031). In carriers of two polymorphic MIR107 rs2296616 alleles, chronic pain was significantly more common than in carriers of two wild-type alleles (P = 0.004). Carriers of at least one polymorphic MIR23B rs1011784 allele experienced more neuropathic pain after adjustment for tramadol dose (OR = 2.85, 95% CI = 1.07–7.59, P = 0.036), while carriers of at least one polymorphic OPRM1 rs677830 allele experienced less neuropathic pain compared to carriers of two wild-type alleles (OR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.15–0.99, P = 0.047).Conclusions.Genetic variability of OPRM1 and genes coding for miRNAs that could affect OPRM1 expression may be associated with adverse effects of tramadol/paracetamol treatment as well as with chronic and neuropathic pain after breast cancer surgery with axillary lymphadenectomy.
Keywords: operacija raka na dojki, zdravljenje bolečine, tramadol
Published in DiRROS: 25.07.2024; Views: 892; Downloads: 246
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